Chemical fire apparatus.



J. LUNOE.

CHEMICAL FIRE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED .APR.2B. 1913.

1 1 l ggo Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

J. LUNOEJ CHEMICAL FIRE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APE.28, 1913.

1,1 1 8,228. Patented 001. 13, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES A P NT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LUNOE, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CHEMICAL FIRE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented Oct. -13, 1914.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 763,992.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH LUxoE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county ofHennepin'and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Chemical Fire Apparatus; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient fireapparatus of a type adapted for use in charging a stream of water,during its passage through a line of hose, with a chemical agent whichwill increase the extinguishing properties of the charged stream.

To the above ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the noveldevices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view partly in longitudinalvertical section and partly in side elevation, showing the preferredform of the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken onthe line 02 m of Fig. 1; and Fig 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 butshowing a.

slightly modified form of the apparatus.

The numeral 1 indicates a metallic tube interposed between two sectionsof a line of hose 2 and connected thereto, at its ends, by the customaryhose couplings 3. The tube 1 is formed with an upwardly extended bulgedportion, affording a mixing chamber 4. As shown, this tube 1 ispreferably formed in two sections by transversely dividing the same, toafford access to the chamber 4. The abutting ends of said sections areformed with out-turned flanges 5 and are detachably secured together bynut equipped bolts 6, to form a water tight joint. Integrally formed inthe upper portion of the rear section of the, tube 1 and opening intothe chamber 4 is a horizontally extended cylinder 7, open at both ends.Bolted to the top of the cylinder 7 is a chemical holding hopper 8having an open bottom and arranged to deliver into the cylinder 7through an opening or port 9 formed in the top thereof. The top of thehopper 8 is preferably closed by a hinged cover 10.

A piston-like feed plunger 11 is mounted in the cylinder 7, for endwisemovements to open and close the port 9 and to positively force thechemicals delivered from the hopper 8 into the chamber 4. Bolted to therear end section of the tube 1 is an upwardly projecting bearing bracket12, in the upper end of which is journaled a crank shaft 13, having atone end a crank arm 14, connected by a link- 15 to the rear end oftheplunger 11. Keyed or otherwise secured to the other end of the crankshaft 13 is a pulley 16 over which runs a driving belt 17.

The delivery end of the cylinder 7 is normally closed by a swingingvalve 18. This valve 18 is provided with a pair of upwardly projectinghinge lugs 19, pivotally secured to a hinge rod 20 mounted, at its ends,in seats formed between the flanges 5 of the tube 1. The valve 18 isnormally held closed, under the action of gravity, and by the pressureof the Water within the chamber 4. A coiled spring 21 is also providedfor. assisting in closing the valve 18.

is secured a depending finger 24, normally projecting centrally throughthe port 9 and extending a short distance into the cylinder 7. As theplunger 11 moves forward, the finger 24 is engaged by the front end ofthe plunger 11 and, together with the agitator 22, is moved to one sideof the hopper 8. During this movement of the agitator 22,

the lower endof the finger 24 is lifted hi enough to permit the forwardend of t e plunger 11 to pass thereunder. During the return movement ofthe plunger 11, the finger 24 is engaged by a V-shaped notch 25, cut inthe top of the plunger 11 and moved, together with the agitator 22, tothe other side of. the hopper 8. In this posltlon of the plunger, thefinger 24 will have moved to a point high enough to be lifted out of thenotch 25, thereby releasing the agitator 22 settle in the bottom of thehopper 8, to insure a steady feed.

When the plunger 11 is in its extreme rear position, as shown in Fig. 1,the port is" open and a quantity of the chamicals within the hopper 8will drop into the cylinder 7 through said port. During the advancemovement of the piston 11, the chemicals within the cylinder 7 will beforced out of the delivery end of the cylinder 7 into the chamber 4,where the same are thoroughly commingled with the water and carriedthereby through the hose in the direction of the arrow marked on Fig. 1.The pressure of the chemicals on the valve 18, under the action of theplunger 11, will open said valve against the pressure of the waterwithin the chamber 4. As the plunger 11 starts on its return movement,the valve'l8 will be closed, under the action of gravity and thepressure of the water, together with the spring 21. During the dischargeof the chemicals from the cylinder 7 by the plunger 11, the port 9 iscompletely closed by said plunger and is not uncovered until after thevalve is closed,

\ following the discharge of the chemicals from the cylinder, therebypreventing the water from coming contact with the main body of chemicalsin the hopper 8.

In actual practice, the improved apparatus will be mounted on a hoseWagon or suitable truck, which will be provided with an explosive engineor other suitable means for operating the plunger 11. In case anexplosive engine is used, the engine shaft will be provided with adriving pulley over which the belt 17 runs. In some instances, it mightbe desirable to operate the plunger 11 by a hand crank. It mightsometimes be desirable to mount the improved apparatus on a fire engine;in which case, the plunger 11 will be driven fromone of the operativeparts of the engine.

Referring to the modification shown in jFig. 3, the numeral 26 indicatesa heavy feed screw havin a square thread and'mounted in the c lin er 7,for positively forcing the chemlca s-from the hopper 8 into the chamher4. This feedscrew 26 is provided with a rearwardly extended shaft 27journaled, at

. its rear end, in a bearing 28, bolted to the rear-end section of thetube 1. Secured for rotation with the shaft 27 is a pulley 29, overwhich runs a driving belt 30. In this structure, the valve 18 operatesin the same manner as previously described and the chemi cals packedwithin the thread of the feed screw 26 will revent an inrush of waterfrom the cham er 4: to the hopper 8 while the valve 18 is open.

The above described device, while extremely simple and of comparativelysmall cost to manufacture, is thought to be highly efiicient for thepurpose had in view.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the kind described the combination with a waterconduit having a chemical receiving section of very greatly increasedcross-section of a cylinder. expanded approximately parallel to saidconduit, having its inner end' opening into the expanded sectionthereof, leaving the said conduit with at least its full. conductingcapacity in the vicinitythereof,ayieldingly closed check valve normallyclosing the inner end of said cylinder and adapted to open into theexpanded section of said conduit, a hopper opening into -theintermediate ortion of said cylinder, and a positive feed device workingin said cylinder, for forcing the chemicals into said expanded chamberof said conduit to chemicalize the water therein. r I I 2. In-anapparatus of the kind described the combination with a water-conduit, ofa cylinder having a-discharge end opening into said conduit, a hopper.d'ehvermg into the intermediate portion of said cylinder, a check valvenormally closing the delivery end of said cylinder, a reciprocatingplunger working in said cylinder and having a notch therein, and anagitator within said hopper depending into said'cylinder and arranged tobe intermittently engagedbyone end of In testimon whereofl afiixjmysignature in presence 0 two witnesses.

josnrn LUNoE'. Witnesses? Enrrn-E. HANNA,

HARRY D.-

